Dec. 27, 2015; Kansas City, MO; Chiefs left guard Jeff Allen (71) blocks Cleveland Browns defensive end Desmond Bryant (92) as quarterback Alex Smith (11) steps up in the pocket during the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – It didn’t take long for guard Jeff Allen to get back in the groove against the Cleveland Browns.
Allen, who missed the past two games with an ankle injury, returned to the starting lineup at left guard and felt right at home.
“I got back in there ready to roll,” he said. “Once I got that first drive out of my system, it was all right. It was the same.”
The status quo for Allen means bringing a level of nastiness and physical play, which he accomplished on the Chiefs’ second possession.
Allen led the way around the left side on running back Charcandrick West’s 22-yard scamper and leveled not one, but two defenders down the field.
“I was just doing my job and trying to spring a long run, that’s what I did,” Allen said. “But I definitely had some chippiness to me today and a chip on my shoulder because I missed the last couple of weeks.”
The fourth-year pro also got into a brief shoving match after a play with Browns linebacker Craig Robertson, but credit the heated exchange to the offensive lineman’s happiness for being back on the field.
“Anytime you’re away from the game, you’re eager to get back,” Allen said. “When you get back, you want to go out there. You’re kind of like a bull in a China shop.”
BOWE HELD IN CHECK
Browns wide receiver Dwayne Bowe’s return to Arrowhead Stadium went very quietly.
The former Chiefs receiver didn’t record a catch and had just one ball thrown his way the entire game.
Bowe didn’t speak to the Browns media after the game, but his former quarterback of the past two seasons briefly caught up with Bowe before the game.
“Just quickly,” Alex Smith said. “Like I said before, I love Dwayne. He is great. He and I have a great relationship, so it was good to see him out there.”
Bowe, who has just five catches for 53 yards in 2015, left Kansas City ranked second all-time in receptions behind tight end Tony Gonzalez (916). Bowe’s 7,155 yards receiving rank third all-time in Chiefs history behind Gonzalez and wide receiver Otis Taylor.
FLEXED SCHEDULE
Week 17’s season finale between the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs has been flexed to a 3:25 p.m. CT slot from its original 12 p.m. start, the NFL announced Sunday night.
The Chiefs (10-5) are currently a half game behind the Denver Broncos (10-4) pending the outcome of the Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals contest on Monday Night Football.
Should the Broncos lose against the Bengals, the Chiefs and Broncos would enter the final week of the regular season at identical 10-5 records, with the Chiefs owning the tiebreaker for the AFC West division title.
The Broncos host the San Diego Chargers in Week 17 and will play at the same 3:25 p.m. time slot.
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Herbie Teope is the lead Chiefs beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com and The Topeka Capital-Journal. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @HerbieTeope.
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